Surveillance Footage Helps Lead to Murder Charge Against Tricycle-Riding Murder Suspect

Albuquerque –

On September 29, 2025, at approximately 7:39 AM, deputies from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office responded to the Dollar Tree located at 1511 Goff Blvd SW regarding a deceased male. Upon arrival, they located the victim, Michael Chavez, who had apparent trauma to his head and face and was lying in a pool of blood.

A witness reported finding the victim unresponsive and initially believed he was sleeping. She stated she had known the victim for some time, as he would often sleep near the business and she had occasionally provided him food and shelter.

Deputies secured the scene and waited for homicide detectives. The on-call homicide detective was notified by a supervising sergeant and responded to the scene, where another sergeant provided an initial briefing. The detective remained on scene and obtained additional information through interviews and surveillance footage.

Surveillance video from a nearby business showed the victim lying near the entrance to the Dollar Tree when a male subject on a tricycle with a rear basket arrived. The two appeared to communicate briefly before the victim lay down and remained motionless. The subject then picked up an object consistent with a large rock and struck the victim’s head. He followed with jabbing motions to the victim’s chest and neck, then walked away, returned, and struck the victim again with the rock before placing it in his basket and leaving the area on the tricycle. As per the criminal complaint, the victim moved slightly after the violent attack but then became unresponsive.

BCSO Detectives canvassed the area and spoke with several homeless individuals, who indicated that not many people in the area rode tricycles. They mentioned a tall Hispanic male who did, but could not provide a name.

According to the criminal complaint, a deputy later recalled an unrelated encounter on August 24, 2025, involving a Hispanic male riding a tricycle. Body camera footage from that incident showed a subject identified as Dominique Gabriel Andrade (also known as Dominic in court records). The tricycle, as well as the individual’s physical characteristics, closely resembled the person seen in the surveillance video.

On October 20, 2025, the U.S. Marshals task force located Andrade near 1701 Towner Ave NW. He was detained and a search warrant was executed. A foldable knife was located in his pocket, and in the tricycle’s basket were a neon green hoodie and a large cane — both of which matched items seen in the surveillance footage.

During an interview with deputies, Andrade was advised of his Miranda rights, which he acknowledged. Before being questioned, Andrade began speaking about the cartel. When asked if he knew why he was being detained, he initially denied it but then mentioned the victim was dead. The complaint mentions that Andrade admitted to being with the victim at the Dollar Tree on the night of the homicide and said they had a minor argument that did not become physical. When presented with the video evidence, Andrade again changed the conversation to unrelated topics, including human trafficking and satellite tracking.

Based on Andrade’s physical resemblance to the suspect, the distinctive tricycle, matching clothing and items, and his own admission of being present with the victim that night, detectives requested a warrant for an open count of murder against Andrade.

Andrade was booked into MDC on October 21. He was charged with Murder in the first degree (felony murder) and Tampering with Evidence.

Per court records, Andrade was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, he has a criminal record going back to 1996.